GRAND HAVEN -- Ken Ranta, former athletic director and a seventh-grade math and science teacher at Grand Haven Area Public Schools, died late Monday night when he apparently lost control of his Jeep and struck a tree in the Marquette area.

According to the Ontonagon County Sheriff's Department, the accident happened sometime after 11:30 p.m. Monday as Ranta was driving a Jeep north on South Baltimore Road in Stannard Township.

Ontonagon Sheriff's officials said it appears Ranta lost control of the vehicle, and the Jeep crossed a small ravine and struck a tree. Sheriff's units were not alerted to the accident until around 10 a.m. Tuesday and found Ranta dead at the scene.

According to reports, he was not wearing a seat belt and the accident remains under investigation.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the VanZantwick, Bartels and Kammeraad Funeral Home and were incomplete this morning.

Ranta was a seventh-grade math/science teacher with Lakeshore Middle Schools. He came to Grand Haven in 1996 and served as athletic director for seven years until 2003, when he retired so he could devote more time to teaching. Before coming to Grand Haven, he taught math and science and served as athletic director with Kent/Denver Public Schools in Englewood, Colo. He served as an assistant headmaster, athletic director, teacher and coach at Abbey School in Canon City, Colo.

He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1972, with a bachelor's degree in math education. He also took courses at the University of Colorado.

At the time he announced his retirement as athletic director, then Superintendent Rick Kent called Ranta an "excellent" athletic director.

"Think of the hours, time and effort that goes into being athletic director of a district our size," Kent said. "He's still very dedicated and still putting in a lot of time, but it won't compare to the hours he's spent over the last seven years."

Sue Richards, assistant superintendent for instructional services, said "Ken Ranta was well respected and regarded as a teacher and an athletic director."